Farland sat waiting in the lounge .sx He'd yet to meet Dr. Halset , who'd arrived just after dinner .sx Following a telephone call , a little earlier , Winter had said , " I'd like an opportunity of explaining you to Halset before he sees you .sx Would you mind very much ?sx You can stay in the dining room , or .sx . " " I'll be in my bedroom , " Farland had told him .sx " There's every comfort , and I've a letter to write .sx " " So glad you understand .sx You'll hear us come upstairs .sx He's certain to want Wally to retire early and will probably give him a stronger sedative .sx When we're through we'll join you in the lounge .sx " " How much will you tell Dr. Halset about the reasons for my being here ?sx " Farland had asked .sx " I'll tell him as little as possible .sx He will , of course , have to know about your rescuing Wally from the cliffs last night .sx That falls into the medical picture .sx But the local gossip and other troubles are outside his province .sx You'll be able to take your cue from me .sx " While he was waiting for them , Farland reviewed his own decision to say nothing of what he'd learned during the day .sx For one thing , he was reluctant to reveal the source of his information .sx He was prepared to believe Susie Bowers , but Winter might feel very differently .sx It wouldn't suit Farland's plans to have the girl banned from the house on the grounds that she was an irresponsible gossip .sx He'd other valid reasons for silence .sx So far there was no proof , no confirmation , and there was still much to be discovered .sx He strongly suspected that Smail was one of the men who'd been watching the house at night ; but the evidence of the chewing-gum was circumstantial .sx Considered objectively it only proved that one of the intruders could have been Smail .sx The identification of the second man as either Harker or Beddoes was even flimsier .sx This was a lead .sx No more .sx He'd have to watch them ; and if the suspicions were proved right , then he'd have to discover who was employing them .sx And had the same unknown person induced Bowers to start the talk in the village ?sx Or was that fortuitous ?sx Farland summed up .sx Quite fair to hold out on Winter .sx It seems he's keeping things back .sx If he knows about the knife .sx . And if he knows that Wally did attack the girl .sx . There were voices in the hall and Winter entered with the visitor .sx He effected introductions .sx Halset was not at all as Farland had pictured .sx He was a shortish man of slight build .sx The nose was the predominant feature of his face .sx It was long and beakish , coming out so far that one felt the tip must intrude in his vision whenever he glanced downwards .sx He was almost bald , the remaining hair tufting at the sides and tending to curl at the back .sx He looked a mournful man and his handshake was loose ; but his voice was well modulated and , Farland imagined , could be soothing .sx " Mr. Farland , I've heard how magnificently you behaved last night .sx I'm thankful you were here and averted what would certainly have been a tragedy .sx " " I did what I could , " Farland murmured .sx He glanced at Rufus Winter .sx " It was a situation that called for somebody pretty athletic .sx " " I'd not the nerve- let alone the body , " Winter said candidly .sx " Let me get you a drink .sx How very fortunate , doctor , that you should happen to be coming down this way .sx It's not often you leave town .sx " " I escape too rarely , " Halset said .sx " I prescribe rest for myself ; but I never manage to take it .sx However- there was this long-standing invitation and I suddenly found myself with a number of cancelled appointments .sx My secretary managed some re-arranging of the remaining ones and- well- here I am .sx " " Taking on an extra fifty miles of driving and a bit more work , " Winter commented .sx " I appreciate it .sx " " Don't worry .sx I don't mind driving .sx In fact , I do so little these days that I welcome it .sx " When they were sitting comfortably , a drink at hand , Winter said :sx " You can talk freely to Farland .sx I've told him very little- largely because I don't sufficiently understand your methods .sx " " Hypnosis , " Halset said .sx He moved a little in his chair so that he was facing Farland .sx " I expect you know that it's possible- with the right subject- to virtually turn back the clock .sx Fortunately for him , Waldo Sutton's a good subject .sx I can put him into a hypnotic sleep very quickly .sx It took longer at first and the results were no more than encouraging ; but now we've reached the stage where he falls into a trance in response to a simple word formula .sx While he's in this condition I can take him back , make him relive portions of the past .sx In particular that night of the air-crash .sx You know of the disaster ?sx " Farland nodded .sx Halset continued , " The value of hypnotic treatment lies in the increased suggestibility of the patient and also what we call abreaction- bringing repressed material back to consciousness .sx It's a complex matter , not easy to explain in a few words .sx " " I think I get the general idea , " Farland said .sx " Do you give this hypnotic treatment to all your patients ?sx " " Indeed , no .sx It's only possible in certain cases .sx And it's only one among many methods of treatment .sx " Winter said , " You always have a soothing effect on Wally .sx We shouldn't have any more trouble for the time being .sx " " I hope not , " Halset said .sx He didn't sound so confident as Winter .sx In fact it seemed to Farland , who'd been watching closely , that Halset was not entirely at ease .sx He gave the impression of being a worried man and once or twice , during the explanation of the treatment being given to Wally , he'd glanced at Winter as though for support .sx Or is it just , Farland wondered , that I'm not too favourably impressed ?sx He wanted to study the psychiatrist more closely .sx He couldn't be professionally critical but he might evaluate the man .sx However there was no chance , for Halset looked at his watch and announced he must be on his way .sx Winter , at Farland's shoulder , said quietly , " I hesitate to suggest you should run any risk ; but I'd like to be sure our unknown friends aren't watching .sx " " Leave it to me , " Farland assured him .sx Halset had not risen from his seat .sx Winter said , " You'll excuse Farland ?sx He's a man of habit- likes his evening exercise .sx " " Of course , " Halset said .sx He accompanied the loose handshake with a murmured hope that they might meet again sometime .sx Farland left the house by a back door , just behind the garage , and here he paused thoughtfully .sx Did it matter if the men who watched the house saw Halset's car leave ?sx Did Winter have a genuine reason , or was it just a smooth dismissal ?sx Remembering that Halset had remained seated Farland favoured this explanation .sx He thought , Halset sees me- and then they get me out of the way .sx Could be worth checking .sx Moving with cautious silence he reached the terrace and approached the windows .sx One of them , at the side of the doors , was open at the top .sx He moved a small garden bench nearer to the wall and stepped up on it , leaning towards the window .sx Halset was talking .sx " I still don't like it .sx I don't like the risk .sx We should have kept .sx . " " Nonsense !sx " Winter interrupted briskly .sx " I know this is complicated ; but I can handle it .sx We won't fail .sx " " I wish you'd never .sx . " Halset lowered his voice , or was moving farther from the window .sx Farland could hear no more ; not even Winter's reply .sx He guessed the two men must be leaving the lounge .sx He jumped down and replaced the bench .sx He went back to the garage and stood there waiting .sx Within five minutes there was the unmistakable slam of a car door .sx As the car drove off he made his way along the hedge .sx Winter might stroll round the house or come out on the terrace and Farland was anxious to give him no cause for suspicion .sx Why was Halset uneasy and what was the risk he'd mentioned ?sx Were they discussing some aspect of the treatment Wally was undergoing ?sx Or was that last private conversation in no way connected with Wally ?sx Winter had business interests- or so he claimed .sx It wasn't impossible for Halset to be financially involved .sx Investments , perhaps .sx He'd presumably come to know Winter quite well .sx Certainly it sounded as though Winter was making the decisions , and this rather ruled out medical matters .sx That sentence interrupted by Winter might have been :sx We should have kept to the original investments .sx Winter might be playing the market .sx That could be complicated ; but he'd probably feel himself competent to handle it .sx Farland thought , If money's the answer it's nothing to do with me , and politely pushing me off was justified .sx But was money the answer ?sx Farland tried to connect the words with the whispering campaign against Wally , ignoring Winter's assurance that Halset would not be told of this .sx The result was unsatisfactory .sx By this time he was nearing the bushes , so he dismissed the overheard conversation from his mind .sx He needed to have his wits about him .sx He'd no intention of being caught as he had on the previous night .sx He came to a sudden stop , hearing a slight rustling ahead .sx The sounds became more definite and he had a glimpse of someone running across a gap between bushes , heading towards the orchard .sx He swore under his breath .sx By some ill-fortune he'd been spotted first .sx He plunged forward in pursuit but still using caution , remembering there might well be two men .sx By the time he reached the orchard , though , it seemed certain there was only one intruder , who was gaining ground .sx Thanks to Susie's guidance earlier in the day he knew his quarry was making for the cliff path ; but this was of no particular value , for the man obviously knew the layout much more intimately .sx Racing along the narrow path by the allotments Farland at last had a clear view of the man he was after and there was no mistaking the tall , gangling figure .sx It was Smail .sx Within seconds a bend in the track hid him from view and Farland didn't see him again .sx When he joined the wider cliff path Farland stopped .sx Smail was too cunning to keep to the path ; he'd be making his way under cover of bushes and stretches of hedge .sx Which was his way ?sx To the village ?sx To Brigantine Cove , where the Diana might be lying ?sx It had to be a guess and even if he made the right choice everything was in Smail's favour .sx There were hundreds of places where he could hide .sx Farland accepted defeat .sx He regained his breath , listening hard , but there were no betraying sounds .sx He lit a cigarette and began to retrace his steps .sx Alongside one of the allotments was a fence and here he rested for a short while .sx It was a warm night and he was tempted to stay longer , but he'd still quite a distance to cover and he'd the thought that Winter would be anxious .sx So he moved on , walking briskly .sx When he finally came to the garden and had a clear view of the house he could see the french windows were open and Winter was pacing the terrace .sx Farland hurried across the overgrown lawn and Winter , seeing him , came hurrying down the terrace steps .sx " Thank heaven you're back , Farland .sx I've been so worried !sx I was trying to screw up sufficient courage to come and look for you .sx Scared after last night- I have to confess it .sx You're not hurt ?sx " He sounded anxious .sx " No .sx Someone was spying , but unfortunately he saw me before I spotted him .sx Chased him as far as the cliff path- and then lost him .sx " " Did you get a good look at him ?sx " Winter asked eagerly .sx Farland's hesitation was brief .sx " The chap had too big a start- plus the advantage of being on familiar ground .sx " There was little to be gained by identifying the intruder as Smail , he felt .sx